On March 16, the UCI CalTeach Science & Math Program hosted a get-to-know-UCI visit for area community college students considering a transfer to UCI to earn a STEM bachelor's degree+teaching credential.

As part of their visit, students from Cypress, Orange Coast, Saddleback, Santa Ana, and Santiago Canyon colleges toured the UCI campus, the CalTeach center, and UCI's esports facility. During lunch at the Anteatery, Dean of Education Richard Arum, Dean of Physical Sciences Ken Janda, and Director of Teacher Education Virginia Panish explained the benefits of a UCI CalTeach degree, and a panel of current CalTeach students shared why they chose the UCI CalTeach program. Panel members included Shantel Lopez (CalTeach Math, 2019), Amylene Cabrera (CalTeach Math, 2019), and Donovan Dragon (CalTeach Biology/Education, 2019 [Donovan transferred to UCI from IVC & Saddleback Colleges]).

CalTeach is a unique academic program jointly sponsored by the Schools of Biological Sciences, Physical Sciences, and Education. CalTeach students can pursue a 4-year STEM degree in biology, chemistry, earth system science, environmental science, math, or physics at the same time earning their California Secondary Teaching Credential.